Vandal's resignation virtually ensures it
Winnipeg Free Press
Saturday May 15 2004
By Patti Edgar and Mary Agnes Welch
DAN Vandal made his bid for mayor official yesterday and resigned his St. Boniface council seat, virtually ensuring there will be one municipal election this summer, rather than two.
Vandal launched his campaign to become Winnipeg's first Metis mayor in an atrium in The Forks market, cheered on by his family, aboriginal leaders, inner-city advocates and St. Boniface boosters.
"I want to be your mayor because I sincerely believe that Winnipeg is at an absolutely crucial era in its growth," said Vandal.
"Although there have been many positive initiatives that have been accomplished in the last six years, the reality is there is so much work to do."
Vandal's early resignation makes it unlikely the city will be forced to hold two separate civic byelections -- one for mayor and then another three weeks later for any vacant council seats.
The mayoral election will be held June 22, and city officials have determined that voting for the vacant council seats can be held that day as well -- provided councillors running for mayor resign by Monday. That would mean the length of the campaign to fill the council seats would meet the minimum outlined in the City of Winnipeg Charter Act. The final wild card could be Coun. Russ Wyatt, who is pondering a run for mayor, but may not announce by Monday.
A federal election is expected to be called for June 28.
Vandal spent two days as acting mayor after Glen Murray abandoned the mayor's office to run federally for the Liberals in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia.
Murray's departure has triggered a domino effect, prompting Vandal and River Heights Coun. Garth Steek to resign their council seats to run for mayor. Former councillor Al Golden is also among the candidates for the mayor's job.
Vandal and Steek were among the three councillors who ran unopposed in the 2002 civic election, which many said was among the most boring civic campaign in recent memory.
Only two new faces joined council to replace retiring councillors, and most veteran politicians faced only minor challenges. Now would-be candidates in the two vacant wards have already begun meeting supporters and putting together campaign committees.
Four names are floating around as possible candidates to replace Steek as River Heights councillor.
Likely to make a run is Donald Benham, a former CBC Radio broadcaster and Murray's press secretary.
Benham said he would decide over the weekend whether to "fish or cut bait."
Mike Cook, a local defence lawyer and chairman of the library board, is also "seriously considering" a run.
But he recently began a new job with Legal Aid and said he will spend the next week talking things over with his employer, family and supporters.
Tom Ethans, head of Take Pride Winnipeg, is also a possible contender. He was initially interested in the mayor's chair, but has focused his attention on River Heights, where he lives.
Ethans said yesterday he will announce his plans early next week.
City hall insiders also say Tom de Nardi, owner of the specialty wine and food store that bears his name, could also be a candidate. He was slated to run in the ward in 2002, but pulled out when Steek decided to abandon his bid for mayor and seek re-election in River Heights. De Nardi was out of town yesterday and couldn't be reached for comment.
In St. Boniface, only one name has emerged as a possible replacement for Vandal.
Dan Lussier, Murray's former chief of staff, who also worked for the late Ron Duhamel when Duhamel was a federal cabinet minister, is thought to have a lock on the ward if he decides to run.
"If he runs, it will be a slam dunk," said one St. Boniface insider.
Lussier, who has just finished moving out of his city hall office after Murray's sudden resignation, said he was considering a run.
"I am flattered that I'm being told I should look at this," said Lussier. "I need a little bit of time of catch my breath, but I will decide soon."
During his announcement yesterday, Vandal said his campaign would focus on safety, taxes, clean rivers, partnerships with Winnipeg's aboriginal community, and support for the arts and sports. But he said he won't unveil his full platform until next week.
"I am committed to this. I am going full speed, 100 per cent, and together we are going to rock this town," he said to applause.
The event contrasted the spontaneous announcements earlier this week in city hall's foyer by Steek and Golden, who didn't gather together supporters before saying they would join the race. And unlike those two candidates, Vandal didn't try to distance himself from Murray's legacy. Instead, he rattled off a long list of city hall projects he had a hand in, such as building the MTS Centre and Red River College downtown, revamping Waterfront Drive and supporting affordable downtown housing.
But conspicuously absent from the crowd and from Vandal's speech was outgoing mayor Glen Murray, who handpicked the St. Boniface councillor as his replacement.
"This is my mayoralty campaign," Vandal said when asked later about Murray.
"I am proud of what I have accomplished with Glen and other members of (his executive policy committee). Anybody who knows Glen Murray and Dan Vandal knows they are very, very different people."
The audience of about 60 crowded into the small atrium included city Couns. John Angus, Jenny Gerbasi and Lillian Thomas; aboriginal leaders such as Mary Richard and Grand Chief Dennis Whitebird of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs; and well known anti-poverty advocates Wayne Helgason and Tom Simms.
North of 60 actress Tina Keeper, who hails from the Norway House Cree Nation, introduced Vandal.
The Winnipeg Labour Council is widely expected to throw its support behind Vandal's campaign next week.
The lack of Winnipeg business leaders in the crowd didn't faze Vandal. "Wait until June 22 and you will find I have support across the political spectrum."
Also yesterday, the Winnipeg firefighters union threw its support and resources behind Steek. The union wants Steek to help it regain the title of Winnipeg Fire Department, review the merger with the city's paramedics, increase the number of firefighters on shift and support changes to provincial legislation that links certain diseases with firefighting.
Also running for mayor are police officer Tim Diack, city worker Nelson Morrison, bar owner John Scoles and former talk show host Natalie Pollock.
Goldeyes owner Sam Katz is also considering joining the race and several sources have said Charleswood Coun. Bill Clement has come under increasing pressure lately from some of the city's business leaders to run for mayor.
Clement, the city's budget boss, was one of Murray's allies despite their different political stripes.